Misapplication and Misrepresentation of Scripture in Biblical Scholarship
The misapplication and misrepresentation of Scripture occur when biblical texts are used in ways that distort their original meaning or intent, often leading to theological error or practical misconduct. This can manifest in various forms, from misinterpreting specific passages to using biblical language to justify ungodly actions.
One common form of misrepresentation involves taking words from God's true prophets but misapplying them, a "twofold plagiarism" where individuals steal words from others and then misapply them to their own purposes [1]. This can extend to those who desire to be teachers of the law but do not understand what they are talking about, corrupting the law with "fables" that subvert both morals and truth [4]. Such individuals may engage in "vain talk," demonstrating a lack of genuine understanding despite their aspirations to teach [4].
The prophet Jeremiah, for instance, speaks against those who "steal my words" from one another, indicating a practice where prophetic utterances were appropriated and twisted [1]. Similarly, the book of Proverbs warns against those whose expressed purposes are to do evil, meditating on mischief [2]. This suggests an intentionality behind some misapplications, where individuals actively study or meditate on ways to cause harm, potentially using religious language as a cover.
Misapplication can also arise from a failure to grasp the true spiritual intent behind biblical commands. The prophet Isaiah condemns those who offer sacrifices and prayers while their hands are full of "bloods," indicating heinous sins, particularly the persecution of God's servants [9]. The prophets' role was to dispel the delusion that outward ritualism alone could satisfy God, emphasizing instead the need for a circumcised heart and genuine obedience [9]. In a similar vein, the Psalmist challenges the wicked and hypocrites, asking, "What has thou to do, O wicked man! to declare my statutes?" This highlights the incongruity of those who profess religious adherence while living in profanity [8]. Such individuals are charged with "invading and usurping the honors and privileges of religion" [8].
John Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, addresses the mistake of connecting certain prophetic statements with unrelated apostolic passages. one tradition argues against interpreting Isaiah's words about God desiring disciples like "infants lately weaned" as a call for humility, when the prophet is actually complaining that teaching doctrine is useless and provokes ridicule among "stupid and senseless persons" who are "children, not in malice, but in understanding" [3]. Calvin further notes that when people do not profit from the word of God, they are justly punished for their ingratitude, not by having the word taken from them, but by being deprived of sound judgment and understanding, becoming "blind amidst the clearest light" [7]. This suggests that a consequence of misapplication can be a spiritual hardening, where individuals become unable to discern truth even when it is clearly presented [7].
The sincerity of apostles and true theologians stands in stark contrast to those who misrepresent Scripture. Calvin argues that the profanation of real theology occurs when individuals fail to teach effectively about core doctrines such as faith, repentance, calling on God, human weakness, the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins by free grace, or the office of Christ [5]. Without a solid foundation in these truths, any teaching lacks the ability to contribute to "the solid edification of godliness" [5].
Even the act of searching the Scriptures can be misapplied if the ultimate purpose is not to come to Christ. Jesus himself rebuked those who "search the scriptures" believing that in them they have eternal life, yet refuse to come to Him, the "Great Burden of their testimony," for that eternal life [6]. This highlights that diligent study, while commendable, can become a misapplication if it does not lead to a saving relationship with Christ, who is the appointed dispenser of eternal life [6]. The Church of Rome, in contrast to Christ's teaching, has historically been criticized for restricting access to the Scriptures, whereas Christ affirmed that all have a right and are bound to search them [6].
Sources
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 23:30: steal my words--a twofold plagiarism; one steals from the other, and all steal words from Jehovah's true prophets, but misapply them (see Jer 28:2; Joh 10:1; Rev 22:19).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 24:2: studieth--meditateth. talk . . . mischief--Their expressed purposes are to do evil.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 16.13: mistake to connect this statement of the Prophet with that passage in the Apostle Peter, as if Isaiah represented God as desirous to obtain disciples who had divested themselves of all pride, and were like infants lately weaned; for the Prophet, on the contrary, loudly complains, that to “teach doctrine” is useless, and merely provokes ridicule among stupid and senseless persons, who are “children, not in malice, but in understanding,” as Paul speaks. ( 1 Corinthians 14:20 .) From what follows it will more clearly appear that, since they wer”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 1:7: Sample of their "vain talk" (Ti1 1:6). Desiring--They are would-be teachers, not really so. the law--the Jewish law (Tit 1:14; Tit 3:9). The Judaizers here meant seem to be distinct from those impugned in the Epistles to the Galatians and Romans, who made the works of the law necessary to justification in opposition to Gospel grace. The Judaizers here meant corrupted the law with "fables," which they pretended to found on it, subversive of morals as well as of truth. Their error was not in maintaining the obligation of the law, but in abusing it ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 29.6: the sincerity of the apostles, it is, on that account, an absolute profanation of real theology. What, I ask, do they teach about faith, or repentance, or calling on God; about the weakness of men, or the assistance of the Holy Spirit, or the forgiveness of sins by free grace, or about the office of Christ, that can be of any avail for the solid edification of godliness? But on this subject we shall have occasion to speak again in expounding the Second Epistle. Undoubtedly, any person who possesses a moderate share of understand”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:39: Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare Act 17:11-12). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2)”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 16.17: they shall be totally deprived of the benefit of saving doctrine, and shall perceive in it nothing but an empty sound. In short, he concludes, from what goes before, that since they had not profited by the word of God, the Jews shall be justly punished for their ingratitude; not that the word shall be taken from them, but that they shall be deprived of sound judgment and understanding, and shall be blind amidst the clearest light. Thus God blinds and hardens the reprobate more and more on account of their disobedience. Paul quotes this passa”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 50:16: God, by the psalmist, having instructed his people in the right way of worshipping him and keeping up their communion with him, here directs his speech to the wicked, to hypocrites, whether they were such as professed the Jewish or the Christian religion: hypocrisy is wickedness for which God will judge. Observe here, I. The charge drawn up against them. 1. They are charged with invading and usurping the honours and privileges of religion (Psa 50:16): What has thou to do, O wicked man! to declare my statutes? This is a challenge to those that rare really profane,”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 1:15: (Psa 66:18; Pro 28:9; Lam 3:43-44). spread . . . hands--in prayer (Kg1 8:22). Hebrew, "bloods," for all heinous sins, persecution of God's servants especially (Mat 23:35). It was the vocation of the prophets to dispel the delusion, so contrary to the law itself (Deu 10:16), that outward ritualism would satisfy God.”